The landowner started clearing the site in June this year, but Austin said only a “tiny amount” had been shifted and work had already stopped.

Austin said: “Local businesses and I are fed up with the time it is taking to sort this out.

“It’s been dragging on for far too long. I want [environment secretary] Michael Gove to get the EA to get a grip and sort it out much more quickly.”

In a written answer to Parliament, Coffey said: “We have advised West Midlands Police that we are undertaking a criminal investigation into the company.

“We have separately met with West Midlands Fire Service to ensure that fire risk has been appropriately assessed, and a suitable incident response plan has been produced for this site.”

An EA spokesperson said: “Although the landowner partially cleared the site in June, we have since continued to apply pressure for more waste to be removed and are working with a range of regulatory partners – Dudley Metropolitan Council, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service and HMRC – to ensure we are collectively using every power, including court action, to clear this site.”

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